Astartes armor idle in the Great Equatorial Forest of Namatos, waiting for the Tau’s aerial reserves overhead to run low on fuel and force them to launch an attack—or abort and return to base.

“Victory belongs to the commander who learns from defeat.“—Demian Agemman, captain of 1st Company, Blood Angels, 35th Millennium

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Status Report
Progress of Namatos Campaign
Sender: Chapalin Allyr Numa

To His Most Illustrious Personage
High Marshal Adrias Ioculus

My Lord,

It is my pleasure to report that, after many travails, our noble Knights of the 5th Company have prevailed against the insidious Tau xenos that infest the colony world of Namatos.

As you well know, since our arrival on this rebellious world, I have been somewhat concerned by the leadership of Captain Vivant, who suffered a string of defeats at the hands of the xenos. 

Indeed, I began to consider using my authority as chaplain to assume command of the ongoing campaign. But, after a solid victory recently against the xenos, I am hopeful that Captain Vivant may yet prove the leader we were seeking when we promoted him.

Background

Captain Martel Vivant, commander of the 5th Company of the Knights of Altair Space Marine Chapter

After being severely mauled by the xenos in a large battle 16 months ago, the 5th Company withdrew and regrouped. In early 723.M41, Vivant opted for a series of small offensive actions to better understand the xenos’ tactical methodology—and find methods to circumvent their highly successful tactics.

These small-scale attacks proved successful, and the xenos—now isolated from their supply lines—withdrew into the equatorial jungles and desert wastelands of the planet.

The xenos were forced out of the Namatos desert in a year-long campaign that culminated in the storming of the Tau-held down of Cellis. After  the town’s capture, the Tau withdrew, and Vivant ruthlessly pursued the xenos until their desert forces were destroyed.

After this victory, the 5th Company redeployed successfully at the edge of what is called the Great Equatorial Forest. Using small reconnaissance teams to ensure the Tau could not ambush us, our forces advanced over the next few months toward what we believed was a major troop concentration at the base of a dormant volcano called Mount Cthon.

On 3 281 744.M41, the 5th Company launched its attack.

As the Tau’s aerial reserves begin to land, a Devilfish transport drops off a Breacher Squad to test the Astartes’ flank.

Early caution

Past defeats have taught Vivant that the Tau hold a strong reserve of battle suits, deployed in the air, that drop behind our lines after a battle is under way. Realizing this, the 5th Company advanced until it was close to the enemy—and the Tau reserves would be tempted to attack.

At this point, Vivant ordered our troops to halt and assume a defensive position designed to counter any “deep strike” into our rear. Units formed up into defensive squares, with all flanks well supported by firepower.

This appeared to stymie the xenos. With the exception of some long-range fire, the xenos stood their ground—but their troops in the air were burning precious fuel and would soon have to choose between attacking or returning to base to refuel—and likely be ineffective during the upcoming battle.

A Riptide lands near a Land Speed Storm and disables it with a Heavy Burst Cannon. The squad of Scouts within managed to disembark, and they fought hard to delay the giant walker’s advance on the Astartes’ right flank.

Losing patience

Less than an hour later, the xenos apparently decided to commit their reserves. Two Crisis Suit teams and a contingent of Gun Drones descended on our right flank. One force landed behind one of our Predator tanks, while another landed on the far side of a ridge— a safe landing spot but one that left the xenos unable to open fire immediately.

At the same time, a 10-meter-tall battle suit {Classification: Riptide] roared down from the sky, also landing on our flank near a Land Speeder Storm with Scouts aboard.

Upon landing, the Riptide opened fire with a Heavy Burst Cannon and missiles. The skimmer was disabled, but the Scouts managed to disembark safely and, with commendable aggression, charged the massive xeno walker.

An Assault Squad of Astartes also was waiting in the clouds above the battlefield and, to the surprise of the landing Crisis Suits, the jetpack-equipped Space Marines dropped right on top of the enemy position.

Order to Advance

As it appeared that the Tau reserves were committed, Captain Vivant ordered the advance. Two Rhinos on our right flank turned and charged the landing Crisis Suits.

After advancing on the xenos, the Rhinos halted, and two tactical squads disembarked and brought the Tau under fire.

In a well-coordinated move, an Assault Squad also joined the fight, descending from the sky and surprising one Crisis Suit team with fire from above. The Assault Squad subsequently landed amidst the xeno battle suits, and hand-to-hand fighting  began.

The rest of our armored forces moved directly toward the Tau lines through a mix of meadow and trees. From our observations, the  xeno right flank was held mostly by infantry, and Vivant focused his efforts on turning this enemy flank. A squad of Tau Fire Warrior anchored that flank, deployed in a rocky mound, and they were quickly brought under heavy fire.

Click here to read the conclusion of this report.

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The Corvus Cluster is a Warhammer 40K blog documenting our gaming adventures in the fantastical sci-fi universe of Games Workshop.